“Music of Ukrainian Resilience: ten centuries of bravery and struggle” is a three-part lecture in English created by the founder and CEO of “Urban Lys”, music journalist and promoter from Ukraine Ola Kovalevska.
The aim of the lecture is to introduce the Ukrainian music culture to the international audience and to try to make it more understandable despite the language barrier and different traditions.
The three-part lecture focuses on the milestones of Ukrainian music from its early roots – Bylynas and Dumas – through forgotten and suppressed names of Ukrainian classical/academic composers to the music of more recent times, which unites Ukrainians around the idea of resilience, cultural independence and decolonisation.
History of music in Ukraine unites diverse historical periods and genres showing the wide range and deepness of the musical heritage: from the times of Kyiv Rus to the most recent hits which influence and strengthen the national spirit and resilience.
Parts:
- Folklore, Roots and Early Professional Music
- Renaissance, Baroque and Classical composers
- Music and masses: XX-XXI century. Songs of resistance
“Throughout ten centuries of national struggles and bravery of Ukrainian people music has supported us, reflected our history and strengthened our soul, gave comfort and invigorated the spirit. The agency “Urban Lys” is proud to be a part of so many modern projects of this kind.” – Ola Kovalevska
First lectures were presented to the international students of KIU Summer School Interdisciplinary Ukrainian Studies “War in Ukraine: Destruction of heritage – mastering legacy” (first in Germany studies on Ukraine) at the Europa-Universität Viadrina in October 2024.
Special moment of a lecture was a zoom-call of famous conductor Oksana Lyniv – conductor. Oksana has shared her experience of working with contemporary Ukrainian composers, whose works she performs around the world as one of the most outstanding ambassadors of Ukrainian culture.
Photos from the archive of Urban Lys agency